480 NORFOLK SOCIETY. 



ful in giving a change in the somewhat tedious employment of 

 the late winter and early spring months, and will be a source 

 of no small profit. They will give employment to the farmer 

 himself, as just stated, and also to his children, in spring ; and, 

 beside which, capital invested in the business, will yield a bet- 

 ter return than any other common branch of agriculture or 

 horticulture of which I have any knowledge. 



To excel in any profession or business, besides being correct 

 in theory, a man must learn, more or less slowly, how to em- 

 ploy his time and talents to the best possible advantage. He 

 will succeed in proportion as he is suited to the calling he en- 

 gages in, and in proportion also to the circumstances under 

 which he engages and continues to labor. The means of im- 

 provement he has within his reach must likewise be considered 

 as exerting some influence to lead him on to the accomplish- 

 ment of his purpose. Prudence and perseverance are, also, 

 very necessary qualifications, and without them, no one can 

 reasonably expect to succeed. As with professional men and 

 men of business, so it is with those who shall attempt to excel 

 in the cultivation of the willow. The best way for an inex- 

 perienced person to adopt, is to commence upon a small scale. 

 Then, if by any inadvertency he should fail in his first attempt, 

 the loss will not be great. If he be careful and successful, he 

 will then have the more confidence in making another effort on 

 a larger scale. 



As one of those who have written on the culture of the wil- 

 low, I will not hold myself responsible, or consider myself 

 blame-worthy, if men fail to succeed in the cultivation of the 

 plant, unless they wiU be governed in the matter, by the direc- 

 tions I have given on that subject in the Treatise I am about 

 to publish on the Culture and Harvesting of Basket Willow. 

 But if any person will follow my directions, and cultivate a por- 

 tion of his land for the purpose of testing my views, or as a 

 means of employment, or as a matter of business, I shall have 

 no reluctance to meet him, and shall expect his favorable opin- 

 ion respecting the matter when he shall have given it a fair 

 trial. 



Sherborn, Mass. 



